Entergy ordered to make refunds to Louisiana customers

BATON ROUGE — Federal regulators have ordered Entergy Corp. to refund up to $200 million to many of its Louisiana customers.

Michael Fontham, the New Orleans lawyer hired by the Louisiana Public Service Commission to pursue the case, said the refund likely would come as a lump-sum credit of about $30 to $40 on the monthly bill of a typical residential customer.

Fonthan said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday ordered payments to cover a period of time in 2005 when the price of natural gas was about four times more than it is now.

The FERC order gave Entergy 60 days to calculate exactly how much is owed and another 30 days to pay it.

Molly Janke, Entergy’s Louisiana spokeswoman, said they are looking at all options.To sign up for CityBusiness Daily Updates, click here.